The escape occurred around 2 a.m. Monday near the Wullowitz border crossing north of Linz. The escapee was identified as 23-year-old Mirsolav H. His full name was withheld by authorities.

Austrian customs officers were alerted by at least two bursts of machine- gun fire on the Czech side. When they ran outside to see what happened, they saw the refugee, pale but unhurt, the Austria Press Agency reported.

The Czech, who did not speak German, only said the words ''political asylum'' and ''pivo,'' The Czech word for beer.

Customs personnel and police said it was not clear whether pursuers fired only warning shots or aimed at the border guard in an effort to stop him from fleeing.

They said the Czech was unarmed.

After he was questioned by police, the man was scheduled to be transferred to the Traiskirchen refugee camp south of Vienna. He reportedly hinted that he wants to settle in another western country.